A microscopical examination of certain waters submitted to Jabez Hogg / and a chemical analysis by Dugald Campbell ; with introductory notes by Samuel Collett Homersham.

  • Hogg, Jabez, 1817-1899.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A microscopical examination of certain waters submitted to Jabez Hogg / and a chemical analysis by Dugald Campbell ; with introductory notes by Samuel Collett Homersham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    microscopic organisms especially, chemistry is unable “ to deal, and other modes of examination are needed,” the Commissioners themselves altogether omitted to have recourse to “ other modes of examination,” and thus, unfortunately, they were left in the dark as to some of the most important characteristics of the waters. The Commissioners, it is quite true, make allusions to the quality of the organic matter in the waters, so far as it could be determined by chemical aid. Essen- tial, however, as it really is to know the chemical quality of waters, it must be remembered that a concur- rently conducted microscopical examination is equally essential to enable a correct judgment to be formed as to their wholesomeness and freedom from pollution. Particulars respecting the minute vegetable organ- isms, fungi, and the minute living animals that are found to pervade certain waters, and whose presence, quantity, and character convey important indications of the quality, can only be ascertained by aid of the microscope: this omission of the Commissioners to subject the waters to such examination is the less excusable, because, in 1850, Arthur Hill Hassall, M.D., F.L.S., made known particulars of his micro- scopical examination of the organic contents of the waters then supplied to London. In the middle of June, 1852, I)r. Lankester, F.R.S., and Professor Redfern, M.D., gave evidence before a Select Committee of the House of Commons, then sitting on the Metropolis Water Supply, on the contents of impure waters as revealed by the microscope. Owing, however, to the Committee of that day — only 22 years since—coming to a resolution not to receive the microscopical evidence prepared to be submitted to them on the character of the waters delivered to the consumers in London, through the pipes of the various companies, these revelations were not made public until towards the end of the same month, when two reports embodying the same, one by Dr. Lankester u On the Organic Contents found by the Microscope in Waters